Aberforth and I don’t actually have an argument here.

Ok, let’s start over. The name of this thread is “Snape Is Not Voldemort’s Man.” One problem is that not everyone sees the logical connection between that and “Dumbledore Lives.” Another problem is that “Vilula” and “TeenLeigh” do not appear to agree that Dumbledore Lives. Another issue is in what Lilly did – she was selfless and courageous and acting on a mother’s instinct. Abs and I agree all of these points.

The main problem is with the definition of “sacrifice.” I wouldn’t object to the word when applied to Lily except that a lot of people don’t see the difference. To avoid confusion over this very issue, I think it’s better not to use the word at all.

Suicide bombers in the Middle East are sacrificing themselves for a holy cause. That doesn’t work for me. And it doesn’t work in western culture. We don’t praise such behavior. For Dumbledore to plan his own death would be the Middle Eastern kind of “sacrifice,” not the Lily kind of “sacrifice.” They are very different.

If Rowling pulls a stunt like that, I will loose all respect for her, 100% and forever.
Like I said, glorifying suicide in a children’s book makes no sense.

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Abs said, “So you're trying to say that an event has to be planned way in advance to be sacrifice?” No. I’m saying the opposite. You can call Lily’s act a “sacrifice” if you must, but you can’t stretch it to include the idea that Dumbledore planned his own death.

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TeenLeigh said, “Suicide is done out of either selfishness and \ or cowardice (outside of mental illness). Sacrifice is done out of courage and caring about others.”
Suicide bombers are not selfish or cowards. And they care very much about their own people, their country and their perception of god. It’s just that, somewhere along the way, their thinking got twisted. It’s not something we praise.

TeenLeigh also said, “The Monumental difference in the two is that suicide is taking ones own life, and Sacrfice is giving it to someone else! In one you kill yourself and in the other someone or something you are not in control of kills you!”
But that’s just the point. Dumbledore WAS IN CONTROL, just as much as he would have been if he’s stepped in front of a train. He and Snape had a plan. Dumbledore CHOSE not to step out of the way.

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Abs said, “I'm not quite sure why you say it had to have been a year in advance, but that's beside the point.”
Giving the Defense Against the Dark Arts job to Snape at the beginning of the school year tells me that they already had some kind of a plan. That staffing decision was made before we met Slughorn. Also, the conversation in Spinner’s End suggests that the plan was even older. Some little hints make me suspect that the plan was several years old.